Our Expertise

Sanctions Compliance and Advisory

• Advised on the application of Russian and EU sanctions legislation in connection with the transit of fertilisers through Russia and their export from Russian Baltic ports.
• Assessed war risks and the security status of Russian seaports in the first half of 2022.
• Analysed Russian counter-sanctions and their impact on the performance of sale and purchase agreements for LNG tankers governed by English law.
• Prepared sanctions and counter-sanctions overviews and guidelines for Russian and international stakeholders in the maritime industry.

Export and International Trade

• Provided legal advice to clients on a broad range of issues related to the export of hydrocarbons from Russia.
• Prepared a legal opinion for one of the world’s largest trading companies on the application of Russian GOST standards under a petroleum product purchase contract.
• Advised a major global hydrocarbon exporter on the use of Russian GOST standards in assessing the quality of export crude. The issue arose in a dispute concerning the supply of oil with high chloride content.

International Arbitration Proceedings

• We represented a major logistics company in proceedings against companies within the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) group. The disputes, governed by the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) rules, concerned recovery of debt under time charter agreements totalling over USD 3.5 million. Our lawyers successfully obtained recognition and enforcement of the arbitral award, and acted in related proceedings before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and the International Commercial Arbitration Court (ICAC) at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.
• NAVICUS.LAW lawyers acted as expert witnesses in IDRC (London) arbitration arising out of a voyage charter governed by English law. We prepared a legal opinion on war risks and the security status of Russian seaports in 2022, participated in joint expert discussions, and appeared at arbitral hearings.
• Recovered insurance indemnities from Russian insurers before the International Arbitration Commission at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, handled claims under insurance contracts in foreign arbitration (LMAA), and negotiated settlements in insurance disputes.
• Participated in cross-examinations and submitted legal opinions on sanctions regulations in LMAA arbitration proceedings.
• Acted as both sole and co-arbitrators under the LMAA Small Claims Procedure (SCP 2021).
• Submitted legal opinions on Russian law in proceedings before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC).
• Secured recognition and enforcement of international arbitral awards and foreign court judgments in Russia, including enforcement against Russian companies.

Vessel Insurance

• Represented a Greek shipowner in a dispute with a Russian insurer over the recovery of insurance compensation. The case concerned a constructive total loss of a tanker insured under English law on Institute Time Clauses terms.
• Handled a marine insurance dispute, preparing a legal opinion on the occurrence of an insured event and limitation periods. The case involved the total loss of a chemical tanker under an English law-governed policy.
• Assisted in recovering compensation from Russian insurers before the International Arbitration Commission at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation. Filed claims under insurance contracts governed by English law before foreign arbitration tribunals (LMAA).
• Secured recovery of insurance compensation from a Russian insurer following the sinking of a vessel.
• Advised a Russian insurer on entering into a settlement agreement to pay compensation to the assured. The matter arose from an accident involving a tug convoy in French waters while towing a tanker for scrapping from Murmansk to a Turkish port.

Cargo Insurance

• Represented a freight forwarder and its insurer in a cargo damage claim.
• Acted for a Turkish insurer in recovering losses from a seaport arising from the partial loss of cargo stored on the port’s premises.
• Handled court proceedings, including before the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, in a dispute against a Russian cargo insurer.
• Advised on the prospects of recovering compensation from a Russian air carrier after a specialized industrial 3D printer was damaged at a U.S. airport.

Liability Insurance

• Defended a foreign shipowner and its liability insurer (P&I club) following a bunker fuel spill in St. Petersburg. The total amount of claims exceeded USD 5 million. This case marked the first application of the 2001 Bunker Convention in Russia.
• Represented liability insurers in claims arising from maritime collisions, including incidents under extreme conditions such as ice convoys escorted by nuclear-powered icebreakers.
• Defended a foreign shipowner and its P&I club in Russia’s largest maritime dispute involving the allision of the Greek tanker DELTA PIONEER with Transneft’s oil terminal in the port of Primorsk (claim amount: USD 65 million).

Reinsurance

• Advised European counsel in a dispute over recovery of reinsurance payouts related to leased aircraft with a total value exceeding USD 10 billion.
• Represented a European reinsurer in a landmark dispute with a Russian insurer concerning a fire at a Russian warehouse complex that caused damage exceeding RUB 2 billion.

Sensitive Issues

• Collected evidence and coordinated with insurers in a case involving financial fraud in the context of war risks insurance.
• Advised Russia’s largest shipowner on the enforceability of knock-for-knock clauses and developed a viable and enforceable alternative for use in contracts with Russian contractors operating within the Russian Federation.

Disputes Against State Authorities

• Represented the owner of an LNG tanker in a case concerning customs violations related to the declaration of goods on board. Successfully achieved a significant reduction in the client’s liability before the customs authorities.
• Defended Russian and foreign shipowners in cases involving failure to declare goods, ship stores, and medical supplies.
• Advised shipowners on customs matters arising from the redelivery of vessels under bareboat charters and related regulatory issues.
• Handled a dispute with the Federal Security Service (FSB) regarding the alleged improper crossing of the Russian border by LNG carriers.
• Advised one of Russia’s largest shipowners in connection with an alleged violation of the Russian state border, and successfully represented the client in court.

Sensitive Issues

• Collected evidence and coordinated with insurers in a case involving financial fraud in the context of war risks insurance.
• Advised Russia’s largest shipowner on the enforceability of knock-for-knock clauses and developed a viable and enforceable alternative for use in contracts with Russian contractors operating within the Russian Federation.

Advisory to Vessel Crews on Legally Significant Actions and Interaction with State Authorities

• Representation of crew members and the shipowner in criminal proceedings involving smuggling allegations, including drug smuggling, and theft of bunker fuel or cargo by crew members.

Advisory on Vessel-Related Risks (War Risks, Loss of Hire, Time Charterers’ Liability)

• Advising in a case involving financial fraud related to war risk insurance payments, including evidence collection and coordination with insurers.

Vessel Arrest and Release

• In the port of Novorossiysk, bunker fuel spilled from a vessel loaded with anthracite. We provided full legal support for the matter: secured the lifting of five simultaneous arrests imposed on a Chinese bulk carrier, saving our client (the vessel owner) several hundred million rubles.
• Secured the release of a foreign vessel detained in connection with a damages claim arising from a charterparty. The charter included an arbitration clause in favour of the Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group (HKMAG), which enabled our lawyers to successfully challenge the jurisdiction of the Russian court.
• Assisted in arresting a Russian vessel that collided with our client’s ship in the port of Novorossiysk. The case set a precedent for the arrest of a vessel simultaneously in two seaports — the port of departure and the port of destination. A settlement agreement was reached to recover losses.
• Handled a dispute concerning the inability to perform a dredging contract for an oil and gas field development project due to sanctions.
• Assisted a foreign client in recovering specialised vessels that had been transferred to third parties following an arrest.
• Advised a foreign shipowner on issues related to detention by the harbour master under Article 81 of the Russian Merchant Shipping Code and other non-judicial obstacles to the vessel’s operation.

Maritime Casualties and Salvage Operations

• Advised on the salvage of a Turkish chemical tanker that lost propulsion following an engine room fire. Our team coordinated with the Russian Maritime Rescue Service (Morspassluzhba), conducted litigation and arbitration (across several parallel proceedings), negotiated a settlement, and arranged cross-border payment of salvage remuneration to a sanctioned Russian state entity.
• Represented the shipowner following an explosion aboard an oil tanker in port, which resulted in injuries and fatalities among the crew.
• Coordinated the refloating of a chemical tanker grounded while carrying explosive cargo.
• Advised a foreign insurer on matters of Russian law during the salvage operation of a vessel being towed for scrapping.
• Following three unexplained explosions aboard a vessel in the port of Ust-Luga, general average was declared. We settled claims between the insurer and the shipowner on behalf of cargo interests.

Groundings and Collisions

• Advised in Russia’s largest maritime dispute, ranked among the top 5 settlements by Pravo.ru. The Greek tanker DELTA PIONEER allided with Transneft’s oil terminal in the port of Primorsk. A USD 65 million claim was brought against the shipowner; our team successfully negotiated a settlement for USD 27 million.
• Secured the release of a vessel detained following an allision with a berth and reduced a separate claim from USD 3 million to USD 1.5 million. The entire dispute was resolved through an out-of-court settlement.
• Drafted and negotiated a settlement agreement in a case involving damage to Russian port infrastructure by a Liberian-flagged vessel, reducing the compensation amount from USD 1.2 million to USD 650,000.
• Negotiated an out-of-court settlement in a dispute involving a Dutch tanker’s allision with a berth in the port of Primorsk, which resulted in the vessel’s release from arrest.
• Handled a claim exceeding USD 3 million arising from an allision between a Russian nuclear icebreaker and a tanker during the Arctic LNG 2 project.
• Represented the client in a dispute involving a collision between tankers in an ice convoy escorted by a nuclear-powered icebreaker.
• Advised in several cases involving tanker collisions during ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations.

Crew Incidents

• Settled a compensation claim filed by a crew member who sustained serious injuries on board a vessel in the UAE.
• Represented various parties in crew-related claims against insurers, including demands for compensation and seafarers’ entitlements under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006).
• Defended the interests of both crew members and shipowners in criminal proceedings involving charges such as smuggling, misappropriation of bunker fuel, and cargo theft.
• Coordinated the repatriation of crew members in cases involving serious illness, injury, or death due to workplace accidents.
• Prepared a legal opinion in a case concerning the death of a crew member under suspicious circumstances, which occurred while the vessel was in a foreign port.

Sale and Purchase of Vessels. Registration, Insurance, and Operational Handover (Operator/Manager Agreements)

• Advising a foreign bank on the sale of two fishing vessels with a combined value of EUR 25 million. The project included preparation of contractual documentation, structuring of legal protections, support with vessel registration in the Russian registry, and registration of mortgages.
• Comprehensive risk advisory in connection with the purchase of a vessel from a Panamanian owner under a bareboat charter with purchase option by a Russian fishing company.

Ship Mortgage Transactions

• Drafting of a ship mortgage agreement governed by English law, followed by registration in the Russian ship registry, as security for the sale of a fishing trawler.

Ship Sale and Purchase. Marine Project Financing

Vessel Sale and Purchase

• Assisted a foreign bank in successfully selling two fishing vessels with a total value of €25 million. As part of the project, we prepared the contractual documentation, registered the vessels in the Russian Ship Registry, and arranged the related mortgages.
• Structured and advised on a USD 20 million vessel sale transaction.
• Advised on legal risks associated with acquiring a vessel from a Panamanian owner. The vessel was under a bareboat charter with a purchase option held by a Russian fishing company.
• Supported the vessel sale and time charter arrangement up to the point of delivery to the new owner.

Ship Mortgage and Shipbuilding Finance

• Drafted and registered a ship mortgage in the Russian Ship Registry to secure the sale and purchase of a fishing trawler governed by English law.
• Prepared a legal opinion on ship mortgage issues to support the client in obtaining a syndicated loan for the construction and acquisition of a fleet worth several tens of billions of rubles.
• Advised on a vessel construction financing project jointly with a leading international law firm. A major Russian state-owned bank extended a loan to a Russian shipowner secured by a first-ranking mortgage for USD 600 million and JPY 22 million.
• Represented a Russian shipowner in negotiations for an investment-based shipbuilding project in China. Upon completion, the vessel was to be delivered into bareboat charter in Russia, with a total investment of EUR 10 million.

Shipping Business Structuring and Legal Support

Business Structuring

• Developed an export structure for transporting Russian natural resources to Asia, taking into account sanctions restrictions affecting the Russian beneficiary. By establishing companies in various jurisdictions — including trusts, agency companies, and nominal beneficiaries — minimised sanctions-related risks while preserving full control of the assets for the beneficiary. Designed an international corporate structure and contractual framework for vessel operations, including the allocation of fleet ownership shares, financing centres, profits, and expenses.
• Advised a fleet operator on business structuring and the use of letters of indemnity (LOIs) in the Russian legal context, and drafted a tailored LOI clause for application within the Russian Federation.

Flag Selection and Vessel Registration

• Register vessels under the chosen flag through a trusted foreign sale-and-purchase (S&P) broker and establish dedicated special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to act as shipowners.
• Identify suitable jurisdictions for registering vessels with legal, regulatory, or ownership complexities.

Drafting Corporate Documentation and Contracts

• Drafted time charter contracts for various vessel types, including provisions treating COVID-19 as a force majeure event.
• Prepared contracts for the performance of services and handling of export coal transshipment for a major Russian port under construction.
• Developed from scratch standard forms of bills of lading, booking notes, and mate’s receipts for one of Russia’s largest carriers.
• Advised on the legal framework governing charters and contractual arrangements, and drafted charter party templates for a Russian marine fuel supplier.
• Prepared a bespoke force majeure clause for inclusion in coal transportation agreements.

Insolvency and Restructuring of Shipping Companies

• NAVICUS.LAW provides legal support in the insolvency of shipping companies, including asset-stripping transactions involving maritime fleets.

NAVICUS.LAW believes that high-quality legal representation should not depend on a client’s ability to pay. Our pro bono practice is an integral part of our professional responsibility and our commitment to the maritime community.

Seafarers and Crew

• Free legal advice and representation for seafarers facing abandonment, unpaid wages, repatriation difficulties, or workplace injury.
• Assistance to families of crew members in cases of serious injury or loss of life on board.

Education and the Profession

• Guest lectures and seminars at leading Russian universities on maritime law and international arbitration.
• Mentoring of junior lawyers, internship placements, and support of student moot competitions in international maritime law.
• Contribution to industry publications, academic journals, and professional associations dedicated to the development of maritime law.

Individuals

• Free legal assistance to individuals who cannot afford representation in maritime, transport, and related disputes, where merit and need warrant our involvement.